The Modi government’s response to protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls and calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has drawn criticism. By prioritising its own interests over those of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the administration appears to be defending actions that many consider indefensible.
The SIR has been used to remove around 13 crore names from the rolls, a figure large enough to alter electoral outcomes and the character of Indian democracy. While the need for accurate rolls is undisputed, mass deletions without explanation constitute disenfranchisement, not administrative verification. The responsibility for such actions lies with those who ordered them, not with the voters who lose their names.
Demonstrators have faced police force and arrests, including opposition leaders, despite being peaceful protesters seeking justice. The ECI’s lack of transparency has fueled these protests, which are not political but demand accountability. Treating the call for transparency as criminal undermines the principles of justice and the credibility of a constitutional body.
Shielding the ECI from scrutiny weakens the institution and erodes public trust, turning it into a political shield. A credible election depends on every valid vote being counted, a promise broken on this scale cannot be restored by any result. The Supreme Court may ultimately intervene to restore justice; otherwise, India risks a difficult period ahead.
